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Employer:
Starbucks
Location:
Starbucks Support Center, Seattle
Projects
and Grant Awards:
• Starbucks Partner Fleet Program Enhancement - $12,000
• Bicycle Maintenance Facility and Bike Buddy Program - $7,244
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Commuter
Challenge, in partnership with federal, state and local governments,
has awarded King and Snohomish County employers over $717,000 in grant
funds to implement or enhance commute trip reduction projects
in an effort to reduce thousands of commute trips each month. Local
employers eligible for the grants are those affected by the state
Commute Trip Reduction Law and other work sites that voluntarily comply
with the law. |
Company
Mission:
One of Starbucks’ guiding principles is to contribute positively
to its communities through a strong commitment to environmental leadership
in all facets of the business, instilling environmental responsibility
as a corporate value.
Business
Issues:
Current and projected continued growth in the number of employees (“partners”)
at the Starbucks Support Center in Seattle indicated a future need to
expand existing parking, either by leasing or acquiring a remote facility.
But Starbucks management was interested in other alternatives to adding
costly parking and looked to partners’ comments on a recent Commute
Trip Reduction survey for ideas. Survey respondents identified two barriers
to leaving their cars at home: (1) many said they needed their cars for
work-related business; and (2) others—who were already bicycling
to work—wanted colleagues to do likewise and felt development of
a “buddy” system and a bicycle maintenance facility would encourage
additional cyclists.
Project
Description:
Starbucks determined that by expanding its Transportation Options Program
(TOP), partner drive alone trips could be reduced significantly, thus
forestalling a need to add additional parking. Management applied for
and received two Employer Services Grants last winter. First, Starbucks
contracted with Flexcar to provide an additional vehicle for its fleet,
stipulating that it be a hybrid car. The additional vehicle is available
for approved partners to use for work-related errands and meetings, thus
enhancing the organization’s existing fleet. Second, enhancements
to the bicycle-commuting program were made by developing a bicycle maintenance
facility where bicyclists learn to repair and maintain their bicycles.
A “buddy” (mentoring) system that encourages bicycle commuting
was developed in partnership with the Bicycle Alliance, as well as promotional
materials for each program.
Program
Benefits:
While the grant projects have only been underway a few months, already
Starbucks has found that the implementation of both programs has reduced
the need and related cost of providing partner parking. The addition of
a Flexcar has increased Starbucks’ overall Fleet Car Program capacity
by 50% and added 16 new participants to the program since May 2002, bringing
the total number of partners participating in the Starbucks Fleet Car
Program to 151.
Existing
bicycle commuters have remained active in the program, and eight more
have been recruited due to the convenience of the on-site maintenance
facility. Five bicycle maintenance classes have been held to date, each
of them well-received and attended by an average of 12 partners.
Between
the two programs, Starbucks has eliminated more than 6,000 SOV trips since
the programs were introduced in March 2002, improving mobility in an area
impacted by freight deliveries and sporting and entertainment events.
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